Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER, blah blah blah…

I'm sorry that it took so long and I will continue this story but I have to put it on hiatus for a year because I have university entrance exam. Please please please forgive me and know that I will finish this story. (AND PLEASE REVIEW)


Chapter 6: Horcruxes

Hermione quickened her steps. She did not want to be late to her meeting with Harry and Ron. Harry was unusually quiet and it worried her. Okay, she did not expect him to be full of joy all the time but his smile hardly reached his eyes. Even with Ginny he was alert, ready for an attack.

Hermione entered the Three Broomsticks. She easily spotted them, as Ron's red head was easily recognizable through the crowd.

"Hey guys. I'm not late, am I?"

"Not really. I just came 5 minutes ago" Ron said.

"How was it with Blaise? Could he find the right present for his mother?" asked Harry.

"Actually yes, we did and in the first shop we got in. It could have been fun if that prick was not with us…"

"Malfoy?"

"Yes. He's so annoying I simply want to Avada him every time he opens his mouth!"

"The feeling is mutual Evangaliste!" apparently Draco Malfoy entered the Three Broomsticks.

"Gorgeous!" Harry sighed. "Let's get out of here. It's pretty crowded."

"Okay" Hermione and Ron said in unison. When they got out Hermione suggested to go to the Shrieking Shack.

"Good idea" Harry said. "So how was your detention Ron?" Harry asked while they were walking towards the Shrieking Shack.

"Torturous! Filch had to clean the dungeons as some annoying second grader accidentally flooded the whole floor! So he left me with Snape! He still thinks he's the Slytherin head yet he's not even a professor now! Why did Dumbledore agree to hide him? Isn't it a bit obvious that he's hiding in Hogwarts? Most of the Slytherins are Death Eaters!"

"First of all, Ron, Hogwarts is the safest place for a refuge! And Voldemort knows Snape's on the run even though he's not in Hogwarts. Second of all, I heard he wanted his position back as a potions professor but Dumbledore declined, as he might need to flee again anytime. It's a plus really. Slughorn may be nerve wrecking but Snape gets furious as Slughorn do not favour Slytherins…" Hermione replied.

"I still believe we would be better off if we traded him or something…"

"Ron that's mean!" snapped Hermione.

"We're here," Harry said simply. They got in. Harry conjured a desk and three chairs.

"What is that you wanted to talk about mate?" said Ron, taking a seat.

"Horcruxes" Everyone became silent for a moment. Hermione broke the silence.

"What about them?"

"Our time is running out. We must find them and destroy them quickly before Voldemort is too powerful to be killed. I told you about horcruxes and I brought a list with me…" He took out a small crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and straightened it. It read:

Horcruxes

1. Tom Riddle's Diary (destroyed)

2. Salazar Slytherin's Ring (destroyed)

3. Salazar Slytherin's Locket (R.A.B)

4. Helga Hufflepuff's Cup (?)

5.

6.

7. Voldemort (Last)

Harry continued. "As you know the locket was replaced by a fake one. The person who took it had the initial R.A.B…" Hermione and Ron nodded. "…Well I was looking over Sirius's stuff the other day and I remembered that his brother's name was Regulus Black and that he was killed by-"

"Voldemort himself! Regulus Arcturus Black!" shrieked Hermione.

"Merlin!" said Ron, shocked.

"Yes. So there is a high probability that the locket is in the Grimmauld Place" said Harry.

"KREACHER!" Hermione practically screamed.

"What?" Ron and Harry said in confused voices.

"Remember the time we cleaned the Grimmauld Place with Mrs. Weasley in our 5th year? We found a locket in a cabinet and we couldn't open it!"

"Oh my God, 'Mione you're brilliant!" Harry lit up with joy and burned with apprehension.

"So what is that got to do with Kreacher?" Ron asked still not clear.

"Kreacher 'saved' some of the stuff we threw out." Answered Harry. He couldn't even sit properly. "It was right in front of us! When do we go there? And when?"

"Umm how about this Friday? We can sneak out to Hogsmeade and then apparate to 12 Grimmauld Place. It's supposed to be vacant right?"

"Yes. Mum and dad moved back to the Burrow. They are using the Burrow as headquarters now. Lupin's gone undercover again. So yes it is vacant." Said Ron.

"I think luck is on our side" said Harry, grinning. "Let's think about the other horcruxes. Any ideas? Anything from Helga Hufflepuff or Rowena Ravenclaw? I think Helga Hufflepuff's cup is one but I don't know anything about Rowena Rawenclaw's stuff."

"Cup is surely a horcrux. I mean Riddle got the locket from the lady didn't he? And the cup is also missing…"

Ron interrupted. "Where could he have hidden the cup? He hides stuff to places of value to him, doesn't he? Chamber of Secrets, his grandfather's house… The cave is an exception though…"

"Actually, no it's not! Where was the Dark Wizard Grindewald born?" Hermione said it more like an answer.

"In a town near the cave where we found the locket with Dumbledore!" Harry said.

"So where else can be of importance to him?" asked Ron.

"Albania? May be a good choice. He stayed there for some time. And there are a lot of caves there…" reasoned Hermione.

"But 'Mione, would he use a similar place again?" Ron said.

"Location is different and it is a place of importance. Ron, 'Mione, I think we got ourselves a very strong lead!"

0000000000

Hermione was sitting on a leather couch in her common room with a large cup of tea in her hand. She was going over the ideas to locate the fourth horcrux and the escape plan that would take place this Friday. They decide to leave the fourth horcrux after they destroy the locket but Hermione was reading any book she could find about Voldemort and Albania and took notes which she thought were of importance. She was sure he used caves there for hiding but she was not sure if he used them to put his horcrux.

"Evangaliiiiiiiiiiiste. Oh Evangaaaaaaliiiiiiiste!"

Hermione flinched in her seat, not aware of anybodies presence in the room and when she saw Malfoy she tried to gather everything in a pile and took them in her lap.

"What is it that you're doing Evangaliste? We should have started patrolling fifteen minutes ago!" Malfoy was looking at her curiously.

"Is it ten already? Time really does fly huh…" mumbled Hermione.

"I guess" shrugged Malfoy. "What d'you have over there?" Malfoy reached for the papers which Hermione took notes on as Hermione was getting up. Hermione slapped his hand. He jumped back. "Ow!"

"Nothing"

"Getting to Know Dark Lord Closer?" He was reading the titles of the books Hermione used for research. "Birth of The Dark Mark: Dark Lord's Biography! You decided to become a Death Eater Evangaliste?" Malfoy had a weird look in his eyes.

'Shit. He surely is a Death Eater! What if he tells Voldemort that I'm interested to join! If Voldemort asks me and I refuse he will surely kill me! If I say no to Malfoy he would know I'm studying Voldemort!'

"None of your business Malfoy!" Hermione tried to sound as arrogant as possible. Malfoy was eyeing her suspiciously as she walked back to her room and slammed her door.

"Where is the world coming to…" he mumbled and got outside to common to patron the ground by himself.

This is the shortest chapter I have ever written and I'm sorry for th at. But if I did not post this I would have kept you 9 months in waiting.. Hope you liked it. Please review….

Edit – 18.02.2010: Chapter 7 is coming up soon!